Karen Cohn

When I started receiving treatment for follicular lymphoma, I wasn’t sure what to expect regarding treatment — and a lot of things were unexpected.

I’ve heard that trauma doesn’t make people stronger, and I’ve found that after cancer, I’m not the same person that I was before.

Even if care teams have all of your information on their end, advocating for yourself is still necessary during cancer treatment.

Whenever I get sick, I experience a few side effects that usually go away, but unexplained weight loss becomes a problem for me.

Recently, I met a fellow cancer survivor but after talking with her about cancer, I realized she had a different perspective than I did.

The militaristic terminology of “fighting a disease” does not sit well with me. After being diagnosed, I wasn’t fighting. I was reacting.

When I started experiencing symptoms of an infection, I was worried that my follicular lymphoma had returned.

Having a check-up appointment without receiving any type of scan is good, but also scares me.

“Everything happens for a reason,” is among some of the unhelpful things you can say to someone with cancer.

When I came across an article with advice written by an oncologist for patients, I thought about his advice carefully.

As someone with follicular lymphoma, I joined a cancer advocacy group, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

When people try to cheer me up when I feel a certain way towards my cancer, it makes me feel like my feelings aren't valid.

It was disconcerting to me when my oncologist was unsure about the treatment he was giving me and knew what the next would be without giving the first a chance.

I've learned that there are many differing perspectives when it comes to treatment for cancer, especially from patients to researchers.

When I told my friends I started feeling better during cancer treatment, they were all so confused.

Having all of these screenings for cancer terrifies me, even though they could be almost certainly nothing.

The anxiety of cancer will seemingly never go away.

Even my favorite show depicted cancer in a stereotypical way, which impacted my view on cancer when I first received my diagnosis of follicular lymphoma.

Whenever I experience a new ache or patch of itchy skin, I immediately think it's a health issue — or a recurrence.

When I told people I have follicular lymphoma, the first reaction I got is "At least you got a good cancer.”

I was asked if I celebrate my cancer journey dates... here is what I said.

If you have scanxiety, you aren't alone.

Please don’t tell me I have the “good” kind of cancer or comment on how much weight I’ve lost.